Brady PieperNorth Carolina will fund public and private partners that enhance resilience in local communities and fuel the state’s fight against coastal hazards, such as flooding and erosion.
The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ) is issuing a request for applications to the Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP), a community-driven initiative seeking to set resilience goals, address capacity concerns and prevent coastal hazards.
The program, administered by NCDEQ’s Division of Coastal Management (DCM), will make funding available for fiscal year 2025-2026. These RCCP awards will provide participating communities with collaborative opportunities to better understand coastal resilience and develop “shovel-ready” projects that enhance local initiatives.
The program will be funded through a combination of contributions, including funding endowed through the state legislature and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
DCM will encourage eligible private planning and engineering firms, municipalities, nongovernmental organizations and public and private academic institutions to apply to the resilient communities program.
The state will also pursue contractors to fully update local land use plans with new communities or independently in communities that have already participated in the program.
While partnerships are supported, the program anticipates awarding funding to both contractors and communities that apply by the deadline on April 25.
This request for applications will be split into four phases, with two dedicated to contractors and two for 20 local coastal communities. Both phases one and two will feature opportunities for communities and contractors.
The first and second phases will support the adjustment of local land use plans to adhere to the state’s Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA), which was enacted in 1974. DCM will evaluate proposals and allocations based on demand, need and geographic scope.
While split into a separate application, contractors may apply for funding to match coastal communities’ land use planning efforts. As part of the application, contractors must submit information about experience in resilience planning, community outreach, identifying vulnerable populations, utilizing nature-based solutions, and assessing and communicating climate hazards.
The third phase will encompass projects in coastal communities that are in the engineering and design process and in accordance with RCCP phases one and two. DCM will distribute phase three awards to proposals for preliminary design, site assessment, baseline monitoring and policy and ordinance development.
The fourth and final phase is designed to provide funding for coastal communities to implement and construct projects that enhance resilience and prevent coastal damage from stormwater flooding, sea-level rise, shoreline erosion and more. Some supported projects will include wetland and stream restoration, flood mitigation, living shoreline stabilization and stormwater management infrastructure improvements.
All projects that are awarded funding will help the state and local communities overcome barriers in coastal resilience and adaptation planning, boost capacity and support a sustainable, equitable implementation process.
DCM will host an informational webinar on March 21 to provide an overview of the RCCP, explore phases one through four and offer resources on the application process.
Eligible entities may find additional application materials on NCDEQ’s Resilient Coastal Communities website. Completed applications must be submitted via email to RCCP@deq.nc.gov.
